Middle of the Pack Gets Wilder

Canyon-Hart matchups on Friday will make things more interesting.

The way the Hart girls basketball team started combined with the way its rivals started gave early indication that the Indians wouldn't be the team to beat in the 2008 Foothill League.

One man didn't doubt the Indians - the man whose been pulling the Hart thorn out of his side for years.Canyon girls head coach Stan Delus knew that his Feb. 1 matchup with the Indians would be the make or break game to his team's Foothill League season.With the Indians standing alone in first place, Canyon can help knock them off their perch and begin an unlikely run of their own to a league title.The Cowboys, like the Indians, control their own destiny in league.Win out and you're the champ.The Canyon girls, after winning two straight league games after dropping their previous two, have quite a challenge in Hart.The Cowboys (13-10, 4-2) haven't defeated the Indians, according to some non-historians, in three-plus decades."It is a game that if we do not put ourselves in a situation to be successful, we will struggle the rest of the year," Delus said.Canyon defeated Golden Valley (7-16, 1-6) Tuesday night 75-57.Brooke Lemar had a big game against her former school, scoring 25 points for the Cowboys. Layana White added 14 points, while Nerida Peever scored 13 points off the bench.As for Hart, 51-35 victors over Valencia Tuesday, no team is hotter in Foothill play.The Indians (15-8, 6-1) have won six straight league games after dropping the Foothill opener 62-58 to Valencia (15-8, 4-3).Hart is 12-3 in its last 15 games.First-season head coach Zach Koebel said it has a lot to do with everybody, including himself, gaining cohesiveness.Koebel said he misjudged the girls game early on.He was an assistant boys coach at Hart for the past three seasons and expected things that come natural for boys to come natural for girls."It's kind of been all of us getting in stride at the same time," Koebel said. "The chemistry's been great. It's been taking that chemistry and all the things we need to do and taking them onto the floor."He cites assistant coach Bob Uchiyama for the team's defensive mentality and some of its success.The attacking defense frustrated the Vikings and limited them by allowing no scorer into double digits.Saugus (18-6, 5-2) managed to put up a lot of points in a 61-37 victory against West Ranch (11-11, 0-6).

Boys HoopsCanyon had to fend off a strong effort from Golden Valley in a 72-66 victory.Golden Valley moved to 0-7 in league, while Canyon (12-10) evened its mark to 3-3.The usual characters had their big night - Cowboys Mark Lewis (20 points) and Cody Anderson (17 points) - but other players stepped up as well.Mike Edwards scored 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers, sophomore forward Tere Adams hit some big baskets down the stretch and backup point guard Ronny Cox hit six free throws in the fourth quarter.With West Ranch's 54-51 loss to Saugus (19-4, 5-2) on a last-second half-court buzzer beater by Mario Wright, Canyon moved into a tie for third place with the Wildcats (15-7, 3-3).It puts the Cowboys, with games remaining against Hart, Saugus, West Ranch and Valencia, in a position to mess things up in the Foothill League.The Grizzlies are still itching for that victory.They were even up 46-45 to start the fourth quarter Friday.The tide turned, said Golden Valley head coach Chris Printz, when shooting guard Maverick Ahanmisi drew his fourth foul, then followed it up with a technical.Printz said the referee may have misinterpreted Ahanmisi's words.After that, the Cowboys scored four straight points."I don't know. I really hope it does (come) for our kids," Printz said on when that breakthrough will come. "Friday was the low moment for the season and I love our kids for coming back."That Friday was a 65-56 loss to Hart (17-7, 3-4).Printz was emotional after that game, as was Hart head coach Tom Kelly Tuesday after a 62-60 loss to first-place Valencia (17-6, 6-1).Vikings guard Terrez Scott made a shot with six seconds to play to win it.Golden Valley (12-11, 0-7) met the minimum requirement for a spot in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs with a 12th win by beating Antelope Valley Christian on Monday 81-41.